Please help. Sockets on wooden skirting.

[davesparks]

The buyers solicitors have said....."There is a plug socket which has been attached to the wooden skirting board. This is against regulations and a fire risk. Please arrange for this to be corrected."

Ask them to specify the regulation to which they are referring, every regulation has its own unique number.
The current wiring regulations are BS7671:2008 with amendment 3 of 2015.

What they have identified is no 'against regulations' nor does it present any increased fire risk compared to any other socket outlet.

 

[Resu]

The opening post says it's mounted on a plastic back box.

Fair enough, joined the party late and skimmed the OP!

No issue then in my book.

 

[Leesparkykent]

You have to buy a copy mate for around 70 sheets.

 

[ruston]

No links to the regs £80 ish from Amazon and other book sellers.

Let them prove it to you . They will not be able to.

 

[Octopus]

Does anyone have a link to BS7671?

Thanks for your help so far...

Unfortunately not. The current edition is amendment 3 (yellow cover) and the IET take a dim view of people handing out free copies (its about £80)

 

[telectrix]

BS7671 is a 300 0dd page standard. you'd not have a clue where to look even if you had a copy. as previous posts, there is no regulation preventing sockets mounted on skirting boards.

the only reg. that comes anywhere close is that equipment should be selected so as to be suitable for the environment it's in. e.g. in bathrooms, equipment must be selected according to the fact that in certan areas it's liable to get wet

 

[Flanders]

Does anyone have a link to BS7671?

Thanks for your help so far...

No its a book that cost about £70 and they update it every couple of years to keep us sparks on our toes

 

[Kev3440]

Pic for you.

 

[ruston]

Maybe a wee bit tight , but not the hazard he has identified. A moulded plug would be tight in there.

 

[Paul228]

Ahh.
In my humble opinion it's too low, the flexes leaving the plugs are put under strain.
But there are others who would say it's fine.
So it's one of those situations where you could form an argument for and against.
But the solicitors views about fire hazard are hokeum.

 

[Kev3440]

I have a socket tester that tests for live neutral reverse, no earth, neutral fault and live earth reverse. It's all ok with those tests...

 

[Kev3440]

Could it be argued then that the fire hazard could come from the flex being bent??

 

[Flanders]

Maybe a wee bit tight , but not the hazard he has identified. A moulded plug would be tight in there.

Looks ok to me i think the plug on the left might be a moulded plug ok, you could argue that it may get damaged by a vacuum , but i dont think i would give it any code

 

[ruston]

The bending of the flex could be the problem . Not the wiring inside the socket .
If that is a wooden froor that socket would not take much raising, usually there will be enough cable to raise it , if not it is still achievable.

 

[Kev3440]

What about the wiring being behind the skirting? Surely I would need to chase a channel in the wall and raise it up onto the wall?

 

[Octopus]

^^ I'm sure your buyers solicitor will be asking for a certification confirming remedial action....

 

[Kev3440]

But are we still saying it's not a breach of BS7671???

 

[Octopus]

Yes!

The buyers surveyor needs to come up with the reg he is referring to ...

 

[The Ghost]

You can get intumescent mouldable fire proofing for sockets. If you put that inside the socket, problem solved it would be considered fireproof. However I imagine as always this is a gambit for bargaining a lower price because of this contrived problem. Frankly I would decline to do anything and sell the house as seen. It is a rule at law caveat emptor, buyer beware. There is no regulation you can look at that would support the statement made to you. Failing that you could raise the socket up on to the wall. It would take an Electrician half an hour to fix the "problem" So £20 ish?

 

[Wilko]

I would not put one that close to the floor as its not good for the flex and not easy to use. Seeing it, I still think the solicitor is making it up as he goes along, but I'd be inclined to move it to shut the discussion down. Something like "if I move this, is the sale agreed?"